Chapter 181: Answer that begets even more questions
Valen.
It meant ’healthy’. When I knew what that name meant, I was already sick, so it felt like a cruel irony to me. Perhaps, my grandfather wanted me to grow up healthy, unlike my grandma who I resembled the most.
After I found myself in Valmeier’s body, I started to introduce myself simply as ’Val’, so every time people called me, I would be able to feel like they were actually calling me, and not Valmeier. Just a little silly trick of the mind.
I had hoped, I had wished, but I had never ever thought that someone would utter that name as they called me.
But why was it, that the name came out of Natha’s mouth?
"What--"
I stood there, dumbfounded, staring at the demon walking toward me. I was too stunned to even make a move, and before long, he stood in front of me.
With that moonlight gaze, he said it again. "Valen."
I might think that he called out a stranger with the same name as me in denial. But he said that with a clear gaze that told me he was calling for me. That it was my name. And he brushed my cheek, spreading his soothing coldness as if assuring me that yes, he was calling my name.
Which means...
"You...know?" my eyes widened at that, and I felt my heartbeat stop at this realization. "You know...I’m not Valmeier?"